A performance by the Huntington Men’s Chorus is the latest attraction to be added to the schedule of exciting events at the Eighth Annual Huntington Holiday Parade and Street Festival, scheduled for Sunday, November 26 in Huntington Village.
Members of the chorus, which has entertained Town residents for the past 67 years, will sing at the main stage located at Wall and Gerard Streets just before and just after the annual tree lighting ceremony, approximately at 7 p.m. The chorus will also follow a brief performance by parade grand marshal Michael DelGiudice, leader of the popular Billy Joel tribute band Big Shot. In addition to playing to sold-out crowds at the Paramount in Huntington while leading Big Shot, DelGuidice also tours with Billy Joel, playing acoustic guitar and doing some vocals.
The parade, the region’s largest light parade, will kick off at 5 p.m. from the Big H Shopping Center, move north on New York Avenue and then west on Main Street to West Neck Road. Thousands of people of all ages annually line the streets to cheer the floats presented by fire departments from across Long Island, as well as local businesses and not-for-profit groups. The floats are keyed to the annual theme of the parade, which this year is “Merry Melodies.”
The friendly competition among fire departments is particularly fierce, because the winning department gets to choose who gets to play Santa Claus in the 2018 parade. Businesses and organizations are also encouraged to participate.
As in previous years, the parade will cap a day of family fun, including musical performances throughout the Village during the day and a scavenger hunt. After the tree lighting ceremony, the festival will continue on Wall Street. A DJ will take over to maintain the festive mood, as children pay a visit to Santa Claus, get their faces painted, play in the bounce houses, or enjoy a free cup of hot chocolate, compliments of Christopher’s Restaurant, Almarco and Huntington Panini or free cotton candy or roasted chestnuts. There will also be holiday crafts and activities at both the Huntington Public Library and Panera Bread, starting at noon.
Many of the other features that have made the day truly special will be back, by popular demand, including the interactive map that people can access online through their smart phones and tablets. The map provides information about participating merchants and any offers they might have tied to the day, as well as parking availability, parade details and a guide to the festival.
Free parking will be available at the Huntington train station, with a convenient free shuttle from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Residents should also note that the deadline is approaching for the Third Annual Gingerbread House competition. Persons (or groups) wanting to enter in either of the two categories have until Friday, November 10, to file an application to enter. The actual entries will not be due until later in the month.
The competition has two categories – bakers age 14 and under and those 15 and up. The winner in each category will be decided by the public, who will be asked to cast ballots after viewing the displays of the finalists in two storefronts on New York Avenue the day of the parade and festival. The winners will be announced at the tree lighting following the parade.
The full rules and application forms can be found here .
Last year, nearly 400 people cast ballots for the winners in two categories, commercial bakeries and home bakers. The home baker competition proved so popular that the committee added the second home baker category, grouped by age, substituting for the commercial bakeries. In each category, the prices will be Amazon gift cards: $200 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place. After the parade and festival, all the finalist entries will be moved to Town Hall, where they will be put on display through January.